Bird and wildlife safari in Assam with extension to Darjeeling and Lava

Asia / India

Do you want to take part in a wildlife safari in the fabled national park of Kaziranga watching rhinos, elephants, buffaloes and thousands of wintering and resident birds? Do you want to take a boat ride to see such rarities as Ibisbill and River Lapwing? Do you want to walk in a tropical rain forest looking for wintering Himalayan bird species while listening to the howling of Hoolock Gibbons? We take you to 3 national parks of Assam in North-East India to experience the incredible richness of fauna and flora, the wide variety of habitats and landscapes and the busy everyday life of local people.

The vast grasslands of Kaziranga National Park harbour the world's largest population of Indian Rhinoceros and a significant population of Asian Elephant as well. The park is also home to more than 450 species of birds including many rarities. Nameri National Park is home to the secretive White-winged Duck and the sought-after Ibisbill. Manas National Park on the Bhutanese border is famous for Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog and Hispid Hare and it offers fascinating birding in its varied habitats.

In addition to Assam we offer you the extension to the fabulous North Bengal located in the Eastern Himalayas. You can visit Darjeeling, a beautiful colonial hill station with tea plantations and unique views of the world's highest peaks as well as an array of fascinating Himalayan species in and around town. Lava and Neora Valley National Park, harbouring many sough-after high-elevation rarities, are also on our menu.

Bird and wildlife safari in Assam with extension to Darjeeling and Lava

Itinerary

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Start to Delhi spending the night on the plane.

After arrival in the morning we spend a day in Delhi checking out birding locations in the surrounding area.

3-6We fly East to Guwahati, capital of Assam and reach Manas National Park by jeep. In the park we explore grassland and forest and also take a half-day boat ride on the river. Optionally we take a ferry across the river to Bhutan to look for Golden Langur.

7-8We leave for Nameri stopping en route for birding. In Nameri we take a boat ride on the river with stops on the sand banks to look for wintering and resident bird species.

9-13We take a ferry to the other side of the river to look for the rare White-winged Duck then we leave for Kaziranga. In Kaziranga we spend 4 days exploring the Central, Western and Eastern Ranges of the park by jeep, the nearby Tea Garden and Panbari Forest. As an option we visit Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, the only place in India where 7 species of primates can be seen.

14After breakfast we travel to Guwahati Airport by jeep and we fly back to Delhi.

15We depart for home in the morning to arrive in the evening.

Extension to Darjeeling and West Bengal14-15We fly from Guwahati to Bagdogra Airport and travel in jeeps to Darjeeling. In the city we visit the Zoo and the Botanical Garden to get familiar with the bird species of the Eastern Himalayas.

16-18We watch the sun rise over Kanchenjunga, the second highest peak in the Himalayas. On Tiger Hill we look for rare bird species. Afterwards we leave for Lava by jeep stopping en route for enjoying scenic views and for birding. In Lava we visit several trails looking for bird specialties of the region. We also make a day trip to Neora Valley National Park, one of the last remaining pristine ecosystems in the Eastern Himalayas.

19We explore one more trail in Lava and after lunch we head back to Darjeeling.

20We board our jeeps for the last time to go to Bagdogra Airport from where we fly to Delhi.